Fire-proof floor-arch



(No Modl.)

I c. c. GILMAN. PLRE'PROOF FLOOR ARGH.

Patented July 13, 1886.

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N PETERS; Pmwumom w, Vyahinghm n. a

NITED STATES j PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, OF ELDORA, IOlVA.

FlRE-PROOF -FLOOR=ARCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,379, dated July 13,188 6.

Application filed October 15, 1885. Serial No. 179,919. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARROLL GIL- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Eldora, Hardin county, Iowa, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Fire-Proof Floor-Arches, (Case G,) ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a floor-arch which shall belight as well as exceedingly strong; and to this end my inventionconsists in combining with iron floorbeams blocks or joists of porousterra-cotta or terra-cotta lumber strengthened by rods or cores of ironcast in ahole or holes therein, as fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,Figures 1 and 3 represent two forms in which my invention may beembodied; and Figs. 2 and 4 are cross-sections,respectivel y, of theblocks or joists shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, A represents iron I-beams connected bytie-rods B, provided with screw-nuts. In the space between said beams Iplace blocks or joists of porous terracotta or terra-cotta lumber. Iemploy this material for the reason that it is an excellentnon-conductor of heat, and will not crack like ordinary terracotta whensubjected to the action of heat and water. Possessing these properties,and being absolutely fire-proof, it is far superior to other materialsfor the purpose in view. It can also be sawed and worked with ordinarycarpenters tools, and thus it is possible to secure accurately-fittingjoints.

The blocks or joists O, of terracotta lumher, are made from three tofive feet in length, though they may be made shorter or longer, ifdesired. Their depth is preferably from eight to fourteen inches, andtheir width from three to five inches. These blocks or joists areprovided with one or more iron cores or rods, which are cast in one ormore of the longitudinalpassages or holes therein.

-By casting the iron in said holes it becomes thoroughly united to theporous terracotta, and takes up at once any strain imposed on thelatter, thus greatly strengthening said blocks have one only or severalcores.

In Fig. l I have shown the arch between the beams to consist of twojoists, C, placed at an angle from the horizontal. Each joist isprovided with an iron core, D, the ends of which, as well as the ends ofthe joists, abut against each other and against the webs of the ironbeams. Instead of casting the iron core in the central hole, a-core maybe cast in each of the outer holes, as shown in Fig. 4, or all of theseveral holes may be provided with iron cores. v

In Fig. 3 I have shown the arch between the beams to consist of onejoist, 0, provided with two iron cores, D; but said joist may In thisconstruction the joists are placed in position by slightly spreading thebeams to permit their insertion, and finally causing the beams toapproach each other and clamp the joists be tween them by tightening thenuts on the ends of the tie-rods.

In both of these constructions the iron cores add greatly to thestrength of the joists, so that greater weights than were heretoforeallowable can be sustained by the floors laid over said joists.

I am aware of the patent to J. J. Schillinger, No. 182,717, datedSeptember 26, 1876,which describes anchors connected by tie-rods aroundwhich plaster-otparis is placed so as to cover and inclose the same, thewhole forming an arched tile; but this construction differs essentiallyfrom my invention, and to it I lay no claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with iron beams, of an arch consisting of porousterra-cotta or terracotta lumber strengthened by iron cast therein,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with iron beams, of an arch consisting of two blocksor j oists of porous terracotta or terra-cotta lumber strengthened byrods or cores of iron cast in holes therein and placed in an inclinedposition, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with iron beams, of an arch consisting of porousterracotta strength- 50 or joists. ened by iron cast therein said ironextending 10G from end to end of each block or piece, sub- In testimonywhereof Ihave signed my name stantiaily as described. in the presence oftwo witnesses.

4. The combination, with iron beams, of an arch consisting of porousterracotta strength- CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN.

5 ened by iron cast in longitudinal passages therein, said iron abuttingagainst the Webs \Vitnesses: of the iron beams, and tie-rods providedwith SAML. G. SLOAN, screw-nuts, substantially as described. H. H.GALUSHA.

